It was a disappointing farewell for the veteran singer, with none from govt present at the funeral at Hebbal electric crematorium.
Manna Dey was cremated on Thursday, with no dignitaries or officials of the government present at the Hebbal electric crematorium, where his mortal remains were consigned to flames at 2.15 pm.
Manna Dey, who rendered around 3,500 songs in Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and Kannada, made Bangalore his home over the past 13 years. Though the eminent singer was hospitalised for the past few weeks, none from the government bothered to visit him.
Before Dey’s mortal remains were taken to the crematorium, they were brought to Ravindra Kalakshektra.They were placed on a table for public viewing, but no arrangements were made for a casket. Two police officers were seen bringing two wooden benches on which the body was placed.
Minister for women and child welfare Umashri, herself an actor before plunging into politics, was the sole representative of the government to visit Ravindra Kalakshetra to pay respect to the singer. Expressing shock and dismay over the state government’s apathy, NS Ravi, president, Bharathinagar Residents’ Welfare Association, who assisted Dey’s daughter to perform her father’s last rites at the crematorium, said the state government should have made arrangements to cremate Dey with state honours.
“My friend Venkatesh informed me about Dey’s death at 4.30am on Thursday. He wanted me to make arrangements for the cremation of Dey’s body at the Hebbal crematorium. I consider it an honour,’’ said Ravi.
Recalling meeting with the great playback singer, Sandalwood actress-cum-politician Tara Anuradha said she had appealed to the government to cremate Dey with full state honours.
Stating that Dey’s song ‘Kuhu Kuhu’, for Kannada film ‘Kalavathi’ is her favourite one, Tara also recalled her meeting the veteran singer at a music programme at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall a few years ago.
“I thought Dey sir lived in Mumbai and asked him when he came to the city. He told me that he was staying in Bangalore for many years and considered Bangalore as his second home,’’ Tara said.
In a press release issued late in the day, chief minister Siddaramaiah condoled Dey’s death. He is expected to visit Dey’s house in HRB Layout at Kalyan Nagar on Friday.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}